Belgium v Italy – The all-time most valuable XI for players from both nations

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Six Italian players make XI 

©TM/IMAGO

The Nations League is not exactly a competition that has football fans hysterical with excitement, but it does pose the habit of pitting some of Europe’s historically biggest footballing nations against one another outside of the typical setting of a major international tournament. On Thursday evening, the back end of Belgium’s ‘Golden generation’ take on Euro 2020 winners Italy in Group A2 in the qualification competition.

Italy are unbeaten and top of the group on 10 points, whilst Belgium are currently third with four points from four games. This tie also brings with it a repeat of the Euro 2020 quarter-final in which Italy beat Belgium 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy. In total, Belgium and Italy have locked horns 25 times since 1912, which has seen the Italians pick up 16 wins, five draws, and just four victories for the Belgians. But which of the two European heavyweights have produced the most valuable players over the past few decades?

Since Transfermarkt began recording market values back in 2004, there have been no Italian players that have ever broken the €100 million barrier, whilst three Belgians have managed that feat; Eden Hazard (€150m in 2018), Kevin De Bruyne (€150m in 2018), and Romelu Lukaku (€100m in 2018) are the representatives from their nation. Italy’s most valuable ever player is the current market value of Inter Milan midfielder Nicoló Barella, who is worth €80m. He beats Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne, who both reached €75m in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

When we collate the most valuable XI from the record market values from both Belgian and Italian stars, it makes quite the team. The XI would boast a market value of €910m. In the sticks is Belgian shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois who reached a market value of €75m back in 2020. Three of the back four are Italian, with two of the back four players at their current market values. Federico Dimarco (€50m) is at left-back, with Inter Milan teammate Alessandro Bastoni (€70m) at centre-half with Alessio Romagnoli (€50m) who reach his record market value in 2019 at AC Milan. At right-back is Belgian Thomas Meunier (€35m) who reached his highest value back in 2018 when at PSG.

In midfield are Italian pair Barella (€80m) and Verratti (€75m), and Belgian, De Bruyne, who reached a record market value of €150m back in 2018 at Manchester City. Belgium have a bigger influence on the front three. On the left-wing is Hazard, who reached €150m at Chelsea in 2018, through the middle Lukaku, who reached €100m in 2018 when he was at Manchester United, and on the right is Italian Insigne – worth €75m when at Napoli in 2018.